Texas Tech's Kenny Williams is taken down by Texas' Desmond Jackson, bottom, Chris Whaley (96) and Kendall Thompson (35) during their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,Stephen Spillman) LOCAL TV OUT

Photo By Stephen Spillman/AP

Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville yells against Texas during their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,Stephen Spillman) LOCAL TV OUT

Photo By Elisabeth Dillon/AP

Texas running back Joe Bergeron (24) looks for a hole in the Texas Tech defense during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. Texas won 31-22. (AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Elisabeth Dillon)

Photo By Elisabeth Dillon/AP

Texas running back D.J. Monroe runs through the Texas Tech defense during the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. Texas won 31-22. (AP Photo/The Daily Texan, Elisabeth Dillon)

Texas' Mason Walters (72) leads the way for Johnathan Gray (32) on a run against Texas Tech during their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in Lubbock, Texas. Texas won 31-22. (AP Photo/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,Stephen Spillman) LOCAL TV OUT

AUSTIN — As Texas quarterback David Ash sat surrounded by reporters Monday morning, one of them tried to delicately broach the subject of the Longhorns' befuddling unpredictability.

How confident, Ash was asked, could he be about what to expect from himself and from his team each week?

Before he responded, Ash paused, then smiled.

“If you want to say we're inconsistent, you can just say it,” he said.

It seems even the 17th-ranked Longhorns realize it's pointless to mince words about their volatile nature. When they've been praised this season, they've usually turned around and played terribly. And just when all outside expectations had evaporated, they played the best game of their season last week at Texas Tech.

So what will that mean this week against Iowa State in a home game they're heavily favored to win?

“We'll see,” offensive lineman Mason Walters said. “We've been through enough ups and downs this season that we know what it takes to win.”

If UT (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) didn't already have enough reasons to be wary of the Cyclones (5-4, 2-4), history provides another. Before beating Tech on Saturday, the Longhorns' last victory over a ranked opponent was at Nebraska in 2010.

That upset, much like the one at Tech, was viewed as a breakthrough, and a sign that UT finally had things figured out. Seven days later, it hosted Iowa State at home and sleepwalked through a 28-21 loss.

“The lesson that's been learned many times since that game is that every week's different,” Walters said.

Last week once again proved that theory, but in a good way for the Longhorns. For the first time in almost two months, the UT defense actually had something to brag about, as the struggling unit stifled Tech's running game and limited the Red Raiders to field-goal attempts instead of touchdowns.

In October, multiple members of the defense admitted to having lost confidence. But although the Longhorns are still on pace to give up more yards per game than any team in school history, they said it doesn't feel like a crisis anymore.

Coach Mack Brown said he sees his team's self-image building but has warned players about overreacting to the Tech victory. And considering his description of this year's Longhorns as one of his most inconsistent teams ever, he's not just assuming everything will remain on an upward trajectory this weekend.

“Iowa State will be ready to play,” Brown said. “The question is if we will be ready to play.”

Injury update: Brown said sophomore tailback Malcolm Brown, who missed his fifth consecutive game with an ankle injury, was available to play at Tech. But because he hadn't practiced during the week, UT only was going to use him in an emergency, which didn't happen. The coach said he expects the tailback to play against Iowa State. ... UT announced linebacker Kendall Thompson, who was carted off after a helmet-to-helmet hit on a punt return at Tech, suffered a mild concussion and “continues to be evaluated.”